Older Teens on Board

[DanceBabe16]

Our family is planning on going on a Disney cruise next December, right after I turn 18. My question is, are there many older teens on board or are the guests either much older or much younger? Since I'll be too old for the teen activities, I'm not sure I'd get along with people ten or fifteen years my senior...
Anyway, thanks for your help! Hope to hear from y'all soon...

 

[jgalecpa]

We just got off the magic and in our group there were a number of 17+ year olds.

To be honest, most users of the stack seemed to be in the 13 - 15 yr old group, and the "older" teens hung with themselves and still found loads to do.

There were lots of people in your age area (17 - 20) and no shortage of fun seemed to be had by all, aboard ship and ashore.

Hope it helps.

Jim

 

[DanceBabe16]

It does help, thank you!

 

[musicalSaranader]

I've been informed that by the time I cruise again in August with my family, there may be a room exclusively for that 18 to 22ish group. I cruised this past July (I was 18 at the time), and like you, dancebabe, I felt I was too old for the teen stuff and too young for the adult stuff. I feel that that room would have been really helpful for my brother and me.
Hope that helps. Bon voyage!

 

[jvas]

Good info!
We are cruising in July and My youngest and her friend will both be 18.
I just hope they will have pleny to do........I guess the fact that they are not shy (at all) will help!

 

[nicki dahling]

We have three older teens going this December ( maybe four, and this all depends on our finances ). They will be age 19, 20, and 21. They just plan to hang out together, and hopefully will find a few more friends onboard. We do plan to spend dinner time together as a family and the girls and I will probably do some "mother/daughter" stuff together. They are also trying to persuade one of their cousins to tag along. They are big "Disney" kids so just the fact that it is a Disney cruise really helps .

Cyndi

 

[Grumpy's Mom]

Hi - on the 12/20 cruise with jgalecpa (with the fish above) and am the mom of one of the 17+ girls. They couldn't have had a better time. Went to everything on the ship--shows, movies, etc. They checked in at the Stack a couple of times, since technically they were able to participate, but didn't care for the activities. They even managed to sneak into the Rockin' D Bar the night of the Beatles special, and one of the CM's asked my daughter to dance - we thought he was coming over to ask them to leave!

The place that most of the older teens gravitated to, though, was the Internet Cafe, and the Promenade lounge right next door, usually after midnight. Late at night, if I needed to track down my DD, I could always find her there with her friends.

You will have a great time! I think what my DD really enjoyed was the freedom!

 

[gometros]

Sara - don't know where you heard that, but it wasn't from me

This is one area where I think DCL is woefully deficient. There are no special areas or organized activities for the college age crowd. For outgoing teens, or teens travelling with friends, that may not be a problem, but for teens travelling alone with their family, there is no real place designtated to hang out and meet others their age.

 

[musicalSaranader]

Sorry about that, guys, I was missinformed

 

[kolakdaw]

My daughter was the other 17 year old with Grumpy's Mom's daughter. They did indeed have a great time on their own. In fact, both girls were excited that they will be 19 when we go back again for the Christmas cruise 2005. They love the idea that they will be able to:

1. Go to Palos
2. Go to the spa
3. Go to the adult pool
4. Go to all of the night clubs after 9pm.

Neither of my girls (15 and 17) cared for the Stack activities which I think were really more for the middle school set. It would be great if Disney had a special place for the older teens/college age students to just hang out. My daughter noted that one day they went to the stack to simply hang out and the counselors were very pushy at making them participate in some silly activity, so they left.

Don't worry, there is so much to do on the ship, you'll have a great time!

Dawn

 

[cathie]

My son was 15 on our last cruise & didn't care for Commom Grounds either. He hung out with his 12 yr. old cousin & they had a great time, even met some kids that they are still in touch with. Something Disney should consider is making a pool area for teens. The Goofy pool is loaded with little kids & the Mickey pool is also loaded with little kids & not deep enough to swim in. The 18 & older crowd are able to use the adult pool..maybe they could turn the Goofy pool into the teen pool & do something with the Mickey pool so it could be more of a family pool for parents with younger children. Just my thoughts....but you'll have a great time with all the other activities. Can't wait for Feb. 22 ..have a great cruise!! Cathie

 

[Padre Disney]

March 2003 our four kids DD17, DS 15, DD13 DD11 did not care for the clubs. Our DD17 spent way to much time watching tv. DS hung out with us or alone DD13 had a friend from the dis boards. They spent almost every moment together but not to much time in the club. DD11 spent most of her time with us. We didn't mind them spending time with us.
March 2004 cruise DD18 is skipping DCL and cruising on the Mariner. Other three already plan on skipping the clubs and hanging out with us. We just want to be on the ship.

 

[DisneyHumbug]

We just got back from the 3 day Wonder and had planned to spend a lot of family time together. My 17 yo DD went to Common Grounds and said it was all 13 year olds. We tried to go to the clubs, but since she's not yet 18, found there was no place on the ship for us to go together as a family in the evening. My 21 yo and 19 yo want to cruise again (this was our first), but they said "not Disney". They really should have a place for the college kids to meet.